Clothes-rack



No. 6|9,o5o. Patehted Feb. 7 |399.

Y G. B. SHEPHERD.

' CLOTHES BACK.

(Application led May 24, A189B.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

1m: noms persas co., mvmrruo.. wAsnmmm n. c;

UNITED ASTATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE B. SHEPHERD, OE GRAYSON, KENTUCKY.

CLOTH EIS-RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,050, dated February7, 1899.

Application filed May Z4, 1898. Serial No. 681,559. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, GEORGE B. SHEPHERD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Grayson, in the county of Carter and State of Kentucky, haveinvented a new and useful justable frame into fixed relation with one ofthe sections of the clothes-rack and to mount the frame so as to occupya compactly-folded position within the rack, one of the frames adaptedto be unfolded for service when the rack proper is collapsed and folded.

A further object of the invent-ion is t0 provide a folding foot adaptedto be folded into compact relation to one of the legs or to be unfoldedso as to provide a broad base adapted to rest on the iioor when the rackis folded and to rmly hold the same in its upright position againsttilting or falling.

With these ends in view my invention consists in the novel constructionand arrangement of parts, which willv be hereinafter fully described andclaimed.

To enable others to understand my invention, I have illustrated thepreferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective Viewof my improved clothes-rack'with the parts adjusted to their opened orspread positions. Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view showing thesections of the rack folded or collapsed together and the revolubleframes folded compactly within the sections of the rack, except theframe of the middle section. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the rack inits folded position and showing one foot-piece in its spread or openposition. Fig. i is a horizontal sectional view through one of thesections, illustrating the manner of mounting the revoluble frametherein and the means for locking said revoluble frame against tiltingunder the load suspended thereon. Fig. 5 is a vertical detail sectionthrough one of the standards and an adjustable foot thereon, the planeof the section being indicated by the dotted line 5 5 of Fig. 3; andFig. 6 is a detail perspective View of the adjustable foot.

Like numerals of reference denote like and corresponding parts in eachof the several gures of the drawings.

My foldable clothes-rack relates to that class of devices in which aseries of three or more sections are flexibly connected or joinedtogether forfolding in compact relation to each other. In the drawingsthe rack is represented as consisting of a central section l and twoside sections 2 and 3, which are disposed on opposite sides of thecentral section and are hinged to opposite ends of said central sectionl to fold laterally against the same. This general style of foldablerack is familiar to those skilled in the art; but it will be understoodthat the rack may consist of any desired number of sections flexiblyconnected together and adapted to fold one against the other, so as toassume an extremely compact condition. As shown in the drawings, theside section 2 is joined to one end of the central section 1 by hinges4., while the other section 3 is connected to the opposite end of thecentral section by the hinges 5. Each section of my clothes-rackconsists of a pair of posts 6 and a series of cross-bars 7, which arerigidly joined to the posts and are spaced equidistant from each other.The number of cross-bars employed in each section is immaterial,although I have showna series of three of such cross-bars in thedrawings.

I equip each of the sections of the foldable rack with a revoluble framewhich is adapted to be folded in compact relation within the plane ofthe section or to be extended outwardly therefrom. The revolving framesfor the side sections 2 and 3 are indicated by the nu merals 8, whilethe revolving frame for the central section 1 is shown at 9. Therevolving frames 8 for the side sections are mounted in the upper partof said sections in substantially the same plane; but the revolvingframe 9 for the central section is mounted therein on a horizontal planebelow the corresponding plane of the frames 8 inthe side sections,whereby the frame 9 of the central IOO section may be adjusted to ahorizontal position, so as to extend outwardly beyond the side sectionswhen the latter are folded against the central section, thus enablingthe frame 9 to be brought into service for the suspension of articles tobe dried while the rack is collapsed into the compact position shown byFigs. 2 and 3.

Each revolving frame is of a width to turn freely between two of thecross-bars of the section; but the length of the frame 8 or 9 is lessthan the distance between the two posts of the section in which theframe is supported, whereby the frame is given a limited horizontaladjustment within the section. The revolving frame is provided at itsopposite ends with alined spindles 10 and 11, which are rigidly securedto the end bars of the frame and project outwardly therefrom forsuitable distances, and said spindles of each frame are loosely fittedin coincident openings 12, formed in the post 6 of the section. Byloosely fitting the spindles of the frame in said posts the frame isfree to turn on a horizontal axis and in a vertical plane, and at thesame time the frame is capable of a horizontal slidable, movementbecause its spindles are adapted to play loosely in the openings 12.Each frame is furthermore provided in one of its end rails with atransverse notch 13, adapted when the frame is adjusted endwise in onedirection to receive one of the posts of the section, thus locking thehorizontal frame against turning under the weight of the load thereon.

One of the important features of my invention consists in the employmentof apressurespring 14, which serves to im pe'l the :rotatable frameendwise within the section and to hold the frame into locked engagementwith one post of the section when said trame is adj usted to itshorizontal position and cause the section-post to tit in the notch 13 ofthe frame. The pressure-spring which I prefer to employ is in the formof a coiled-wire spring, which is iitted loosely around one of thespindles 11 and is arranged between one end rail of the frame and onepost of the section, the respective ends of the spring bearing againstthe section-post and the end rail of the frame in order that the springmay exert itsl tension against the slidable and revoluble frame. Theframes 8 in the upper part of the side sections 2 3 are adapted toengage directly with end posts of said sections; but as the lower frame9, which is attached to the central section, is adapted to bebroughtinto service when the sections of the rack are folded laterallytogether into compact relation to each other Iflnd it expedient toemploy a separate locking-block 3l on one post of the central section 1for engagement with the notched end 13 of the lower revoluble frame 9.

When the sections of the rack are folded compactly'together and thedevice is placed in avertical position within a room or apartment, it isliable to tilt or fall over either by unequal distribution of the loadthereon or by children knocking against the same. To overcome thisobjection, I have provided foldable feet 15 16 on the side sections ofthe 4rack, and these feet are attached to end posts of the side sectionsat opposite ends of the rack, so as to be extended or unfolded andprovide an enlarged supporting-base for the structure when it iscollapsed or folded, each foot being adapted to be folded in compactrelation to the post of the section to which it is attached when therack in its entirety is unfolded for service.

Each foot 15 or 16 consists of a guidebar 17, the arms 18 and 19, theslide 20, and links 21 22, which are pivotally attached at their innerends to the slide and are connected in like manner to the outer ends ofthe arms 18 19. The arms and links are preferably made of Hat pieces ofmetal for the purpose of folding compactly when the slide is raised onthe guide-bar 17, and said arms and the links are so proportioned thatwhen the slide is lowered and fastened on the bar 17 the arms will eX-tend outwardly beyond the folded sections of the rack and rest firmly onthe ioor to prevent the rack from tilting or falling sidewise. Eachguidebar 17 is arranged laterally against the outer face of one post ofthe section, and said bar is fastened at its ends, as at 17, to saidsection-post. The slide 2O is shown in the drawings as consisting of asingle piece of metal having flanges which loosely embrace the guide-bar17, so as to permit the slide to have the necessary movementlongitudinally of the bar 17 and overcome any tendency of the slide tobecome disengaged from the bar. The inner ends of the arms 18 19 overlapone another, and they are pivoted to the guide-bar 17 by a pin25, whilethe inner ends of thc links 21 22 are in like manner connected to theslide 2O by a common pivot 23. The arms and links are pivotallyconnected in pairs by pivot-pins 24, and the arms 18 19 are shorter thanthe links 21 22, so that when the foot is unfolded the arms will assumethe horizontal or slightly-inclined positions, while the links willoccupy the diagonal orinclincd positions, so as to serve as braces tothe arms when unfolded and as the means for adjusting the arms when theslide is raised orlowered. As the slide is moved upward on the guide-barthe links are drawn upwardly with the same and the arms are movedinwardly, thus causing the arms and links to assume compactly-foldedpositions and lie nearly within the width of the section-post; but adownward movement of the slides toward the pivotal connection of thearms to the guide-bar forces the arms and links outwardly and spreadsthe foot, thus causing the arms and links to extend beyond the sectionsand form an enlarged base for supporting the folded rack in an uprightposition. To prevent upward movement of the slide and consequentcollapsing of the foot, a lockin g device is provided to hold the slidein IOO its adjusted position. In one form of this locking device a pin26 is adapted to be fitted in a hole 27, provided in the guide-bar at asuitable distance above the pivot 25; but this pin is removable for the4purpose of moving the slide upwardly on the guide-bar to a positionadjacent to another aperture 28 in the guidebar for the reception of thepin 26, which prevents the slide from moving downwardly, and thusserving to hold the foot in its collapsed or folded position. The footwhen raised may not be drawn to a position where the links 21 22 overlapeach other. Hence the pin 26 may be inserted between the links and intothe aperture 28 to occupy a position below the slide when the latter isvraised to prevent the slide from descending and the foot from unfolding.The use ofthe aperture 28 and the pin to fit therein for the purpose ofholding the foot in its folded position may, however, be dispensed with,because the links and arms forming the foot may be brought practicallyinto alinement with each other, thus holding the parts of the foot intheir folded positions. When the foot is spread and the pin 26 isinserted in the aperture 27, the pin holds the foot against movement bylocking the slide to its adjusted position on the guide-bar. To fold thefoot, the pin 26 is drawn from the aperture 27, the slide is raised tofold the links and arms inwardly, and the pin 26 is fitted beneath theslide and in the opening 28 to hold the slide against downward movementon the bar. I prefer to employ anotch 29 in one edge of the slide toreceive the lockingpin, and in the section-post is formed a recess orcut-out portion 30 for the reception of the flanges on the slide whenthe latter is lowered.

The operation is as follows: To open the rack for service, the sidesections 2 and 3 are drawn outwardly and the frames 8 and 9 are turnedhorizontally and forced into locking engagement with the section-postsand block 3l. A rack of large capacity is thus provided, adapted tosustain a large amount of fabric. To fold the rack, the sections 2 and 3are turned inwardly against the central section and the frames 8 areturned to vertical positions within said sections. When the rack isfolded, one or both of the adjustable feet may be brought into serviceby lowering the slide or slides to project the armsand links beyond therack, and the structure is thus adapted to.be sustained in its uprightposition against any tendency to fall sidewise. The upper frames 8cannot be brought into service, because any attempt to turn one of saidframes would be obstructed by the other frame; but as the frame 9 of thecentral section lies below the frames 8 this frame 9 may readily beturned to a horizontal position and pressed by its spring into lockingengagement with the block 3l, thus increasing the area of the rack whenfolded and enabling a certain numbe'r of fabrics to be suspended fromthe rack even when in its folded position.

I am aware that changes in the form and proportion of parts and in thedetails of construction may be made by a skilled mechanic withoutdeparting from the spirit or sacrifie ing the advantages of theinvention, and I therefore reserve the right to make such modiiicationsas fall within the scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is l. A foldableclothes-rack consisting of a central section, side sections havinghinged connection therewith, revoluble frames mounted in the upper partof the side sections, and another revoluble frame journaled in thecentral section on a plane below the upper frames and adapted to beturned to a horizontal position and to extend beyond the side sectionswhen the latter are folded against the central section, substantially asdescribed.

2. A foldable clothes-rack com prisinga central section, side sectionshaving hinged connection therewith, independent rotatable frames mountedin the side sections and each adapted to have interlocking engagementtherewith when the sections are spread to their open positions, anotherrevolving frame mounted in the central section on a plane below theframes of the side sections, and provided with spindles and with a notchat one end, a pressure-spring seated against the opposite end of theframe for the central section, and a locking-block secured to thecentral section in a position to engage with the notch of the frame insaid central section, for the purpose described, substantially as setforth.

8. A foldable clothes-rack comprisingaseries of hinged sections and anexpansilole4 foot attached to a post of one section and adapted to beprojected beyond all the sections when the latter are folded compactlytogether, substantially as described.

4. A foldable clothes-rack comprising the -hin'ged sections and afoldable foot arranged to be expanded beyond the limits of said sectionswhen folded and having arms pivoted to one of the sections, a slidemovable on the section and linked to said arms, and means for lockingthe slide fast in its adjusted positions on the section, substantiallyas described.

5. In afoldable clothes-rack, the combination with a post, of a barattached thereto, a slide fitted on said bar, arms pivoted at theirinner ends to the bar at a point below the slide, links pivoted to theslide and the arms, and a locking-pin detachably connected to the barfor engagement with the slide, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedm-y signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE B. SHEPHERD.

Witnesses:

JAS. L. Poms, ORnIs H. BURLEY.

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